Food Allergies

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy happens when your body's defence system (immune system) reacts badly to certain foods. It's like your body thinks the food is dangerous, even though it isn't.

Food allergies can be mild for some people, but they can be very serious - even life-threatening - for others.

How do I know if I have a food allergy?

Food allergy symptoms can happen anywhere in your body. You might notice:

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Itchy skin or raised bumps (hives)
• Swelling of your lips, face or around your eyes
• Coughing, wheezing, being out of breath, or a hoarse voice
• Sneezing or a runny, itchy or blocked nose
• Feeling sick or being sick
• Tummy pain
• Loose bowel movements

These symptoms might happen straight after eating the food, or they could take days to appear.

Food allergies are different from food intolerance. Food intolerance usually causes bloating and tummy pain a few hours after eating certain foods.

EMERGENCY - Call 999 immediately if you notice:

• Lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swelling
• Breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (very wheezy, choking or gasping)
• Throat feeling tight or trouble swallowing
• Skin, tongue or lips turning blue, grey or pale
• Becoming very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• Someone fainting and won't wake up
• A child becoming limp, floppy or not responding normally

These are signs of a serious allergic reaction that needs immediate hospital treatment.

What foods cause allergies?

The most common foods that cause allergic reactions are:

• Cow's milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts, soybeans, peas and chickpeas
• Tree nuts (like walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts)
• Shellfish (like prawns, crab and lobster)
• Wheat

But you can be allergic to any food, including celery, mustard, sesame seeds and certain flours.

You're more likely to develop food allergies if you or close family members have other allergies, asthma or eczema.

How are food allergies diagnosed?

If you think you might have a food allergy, speak to your GP. They might refer you to a specialist for tests like:

• Skin-prick tests (putting a tiny drop of the suspected food on your skin)
• Blood tests
• Special diets where you avoid certain foods to see if symptoms improve

You might also need to keep a food and symptoms diary.

How are food allergies treated?

The main treatment is avoiding the foods you're allergic to completely. This means checking all ingredient lists carefully.

Your doctor might give you:

• Antihistamines for mild reactions
• Adrenaline auto-injectors (like EpiPens) for severe reactions

Always carry two auto-injectors if you need them, and make sure you know how to use them.

Living with food allergies

• Always check food labels and restaurant menus
• Tell family, friends, schools and workplaces about your allergy
• Inform restaurant staff and airline crews about your allergy
• Clean surfaces before eating in public places
• Never eat foods without checking ingredients first

Remember, don't cut foods from your diet without speaking to your GP first, as you might miss important nutrients.

If you're concerned about food allergies, speak to your GP for proper assessment and advice.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.